For the sake of technological progress and adaptation to it, it has become increasingly recurrent to carry out certain tasks online, a clear example of this is using tools such as Zoom, Skype, Google Meet/Hangouts, etc., to give virtual classes. With the current world situation and the problems encountered in the educational area, it is essential to take advantage of all the tools available. For example, these above platforms are an excellent tool to give online classes, it allows working only with audio, video, or both at the same time.
On the other hand, these platforms also support the sharing of files and documents while the online class is taking place, allowing everyone to have access to it. And, as if that wasn’t enough, many of the tools, such as Zoom or Google Meet/Hangout, make it possible to record the classes to review them later and take notes of anything that might have been missed.
But even with these tools, teaching children can be a daunting task even in face-to-face lessons, that is why you have to be prepared for the situations that might arise when teaching children online to plan and design your lessons accordingly, in order to make the most out of them. Here are some of the things to take into consideration when planning your online lessons:
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Many preschoolers have short attention spans and don’t like to sit still for long periods.
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Preschoolers generally don’t read well, so the lessons should be very visual.
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A family member may need to accompany them in case there are technical problems (inevitably there will be!).
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Many of the most successful games and activities that teachers often do in face-to-face classes are impossible to recreate in a virtual environment.
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TIPS FOR TEACHING KIDS SPANISH ONLINE
In this article, however, I want to give you some tips and tricks on how to get the most out of virtual classrooms and capture the attention of children while teaching them Spanish online.
Adaptation: This word is the keyword in online teaching, well actually it’s “successful adaptation”. For your first online Spanish lesson with a child or a teenager, you will have to either design a new class or adapt the one you already have for adults. In the case of children and teenagers, you need to remember that even though they are your students, their parents are also your clients, and for that reason, you have to project authority, professionalism, and confidence also to them.
Duration: In this case, it mostly depends on the child that is taking the class. With younger students, you should start with classes of 30 minutes and then progressively extend the duration of the class and see how it works out. In the case of older children, I normally do 60-minute classes with one or two 5-minute breaks, because 60-minute face to face language classes can be challenging.
Personalization: Even if you already have your bank of activities, try to personalize each class to the student’s interests. If your student likes The Avengers, incorporating them into the activities of the lessons will make the child enjoy the classes much more and, consequently, their motivation and concentration will also improve. With one on one lessons available, it is much easier to customize the Spanish lessons to make them more enjoyable for the child.
SPANISH ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS
I also chose to include a couple of Spanish activities for kids that you can use regardless of your class format.
Show and Tell for Preschoolers/Kindergarten (3 to 5 years old): Show a flashcard and ask a simple question, e.g., “¿Qué es esto?” (“What is this?”), “¿Es un gato?” (“Is this a cat?”), wait a couple of seconds for the children to answer, then say “Si, asi es” (“Yes, it is”) or “No, no lo es” (“No, it is not”).
Read stories aloud for Elementary School Children (3 to 8 years old): Another activity that you can do in online Spanish classes is reading stories. However, you should be aware that if you read certain books aloud and show the images either by video conference or pre-recorded video there may be copyright issues.
Trivia (6 to 11 years old): Make your own set of cards with Spanish questions including words for numbers, body parts, colors, animals, and food. Begin with easy questions to allow kids to get used to the wording of the questions.
In conclusion:
If you are going to teach kids Spanish online you can never forget your main goal (or at least, this is my goal): to motivate students to continue studying Spanish. Because, in the end, everything is simpler than it seems, and therefore, the work of emotional intelligence and fun have to be a part of the class, without them, there is no learning.
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About the Author:
Specializations: Spanish Tutors on Zoom
Bio: Hello! My name is Daniela Cardona from Bogotá, Colombia. I've been having fun for more than 8 years, teaching students from ages 2 to 80. I have a certification in TESOL, and I've traveled around the world finding different ways to approach languages from its roots. All my classes are focused on my students' needs and that's how I developed, over the years, my approach to methodology. First, you're going to acquire excellent conversational skills. Second, we will establish precise grammar rules through clear and real examples during our sessions, and third, but not least, we're going to have a lot of fun while nourishing your vocabulary, everyday expressions, and approaching real-life situations to strengthen your communication. I hope we can be in touch soon!
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Other articles: Colombian Slang Words and Phrases, Chores for Kids in Spanish, Tongue Twisters for Kids in Spanish, Spanish Vocabulary for the Bathroom
1 Comment
Arron Caughell
One of my favorite sites. I am currently learning Spanish myself!
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